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Renovation

Building a patio (6 of 7)

Starting over with the stairs.
Starting over with the stairs.

Planning and execution errors forced me to redo some work, including a staircase and the base that will receive this staircase. Renovation is also about going back (but as little as possible!). The cost of additional materials is negligible, but it will take time. It is now necessary to build a staircase with three steps sitting on a very solid base.

Digging to prepare the foundation of the stairs.
Digging to prepare the foundation of the stairs.

This time, I dig a foot deep, and add 0-3 / 4 rock and stone dust, followed by a few slabs that will receive the stair stringers.

Rocks and stone dust and slabs to receive the staircase.
Rocks and stone dust and slabs to receive the staircase.

Here is the final result. Nothing will move.

Cutting the stairs in a 2X12 piece of wood.
Cutting the stairs in a 2X12 piece of wood.

From 2X12 spruce boards, the four stringers are cut.

Installation of the four stairs stringers.
Installation of the four stairs stringers.

The four stringers rest securely on the slabs and are covered with a red Resisto waterproof membrane: this will prevent rot from settling on the stringers. An additional board is needed to accommodate the stringers and it should be placed under the contour beam.

Three-step staircase redone.
Three-step staircase redone.

The photo above shows the final result, just before the stain is applied.

General view of the first section of the wooden deck.
General view of the first section of the wooden deck.

Above is an overview of part of the new terrace, with the new three-step staircase. The grass in front of the steps is badly damaged, having suffered the effects of construction for an extended period. But next spring, everything will be back to normal.

New wooden stairs.
New wooden stairs.

This is the final look of the new staircase the following spring, after the wood stain has been applied and the fixtures have been reinstalled one by one around the patio. Fortunately, not all of the electrical wires were cut by the mechanical shovel, which made their reinstallation easier.

Continued in the next article: “Building a patio (7 of 7)”.

Link to previous articles of “Building a patio”.